Gelatin melter



R. E. MOULE GELATIN MELTER Aug. 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1950 Aug 10, R. E.

GELATIN MELTER Filed Jan. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVE/vTo/e RB( E. MOULE By 7&7

Aug. l0, 1954 R. E. MOULE GELATIN MELTER Filed Jan. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 22? Z55 5 Z2 43 z2 257 2.54 Z5 5330 2&7 23e Z3 Zf ZZ ze@ 2% 24E as a' 27o 70 7 A f 530 3 273 0127?? 79 G A 737 30g/77 J' Zo Z@ 77 302 n A 76 E77 Z50 y k l 277 Z7 L A /90 lq. 4/ U/ Z402@ iq 5 mm2@ zz/ |52 l o 2./ 354, G |53 ma /C/G. j

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GELATIN MELTER Filed Jan. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 RE X E. M0045 HTTORA/f Patented Aug. 10, 1954 GELATIN MELTER Rex E. Moule, Holden, Mass.,

assignor to Norton Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,152

3 Claims. 1

The invention relates to an apparatus for melting gelatin and the like and with regard to its more speciiic features especially for use in or with encapsulating machines.

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus for quickly melting gelatin for delivery to encapsulating machines. Another object of the invention is to hydrolyze the gelatin quickly. Another object is to reduce the gel strength of the gelatin. Another object is to increase the adhesiveness of the gelatin to the desired point. Another object of the invention is to attain the optimum gel strength for satisfactory encapsulating with greater accuracy than was hitherto possible.

Another object oi the invention is to rid the melting and molten gelatin of entrapped air as completely as possible in the shortest period of time. Another object of the invention is to remove air from between particles of gelatin prior to or coincident with the melting thereof to avoid the entrapment of air in the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide rugged and dependable apparatus for melting and ageing gelatin. Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the type indicated which gives accurate control of the temperature in the various parts thereof. Another object oi the invention is to provide gelatin melting apparatus which is compact and self-contained, avoiding steam pipe connections and the like. Another object of the invention is to proe vide a gelatin receiver provided with a heater to keep the gelatin hot which is movable from place to place like a small hand truck.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating several oi many possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View showing both the gelatin melter and the gelatin receiver.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of an encapsulating machine showing merely the frame thereof together with a pair of gelatin tanks on the top oi the encapsulating machine, a gelatin receiver constructed according to the present invention and illustrating connections for transferring the gelatin from the receiver to the tanks.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the encapsulating machine showing the casting cylinders and spreader boxes and the gelatin receiver connected to the gelatin tanks as in Figure 2..

Figure 4 is an elevation of a valve connected to the gelatin tank showing means for heating it.

Figure 5 is a iront elevation similar to Figure 3, but illustrating a modification of the invention in which the connections extend directly from the gelatin receiver to the spreader boxes thus eliminating the gelatin tanks on the encapsulating machine.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of one of the spreader boxes on an enlarged scale as compared with Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation, on the same scale as Figure 6, of the spreader box illustrating also the pipe connection for transmitting gelatin from the receiver.

Referring first to Figure 1, the gelatin melter is indicated at 2S and the gelatin receiver is indicated at 2i. The gelatin melter 29 comprises a large sheet metal cylinder 22 outside of which is a slightly larger sheet metal cylinder 23 outside of which is a still slightly larger sheet metal cylinder 24. These three cylinders 22, 23 and 24 are coaxial; between cylinders 22 and 23 is hot gas, as will be described, while between cylinders 23 and 24 is heat insulating material 25 which may be porous silica or any other suitable Inaterial. ri'hus this structure constitutes an insulated cylindrical container with a space 2B for heating huid and the details of construction can be varied. Between the cylinders 22 and 23 at the top thereof is a sealing ring 2l and at the bottom thereof is another sealing ring 28. Similarly between the cylinders 23 and 24 at the top is a sealing ring 29 and at the bottom is a sealing ring Se. These rings 2l, 23, 29 and S can be steel rings welded to the cylinders 22, 23 and 24 to make gas tight unions with the cylinders, especially to provide a hermetic seal between the cylinders 22 and 23. The sheet metal cylinders 22, 23 and 2d; may likewise be made of steel.

I provide a lling pipe 3i with a plug 32 which can be used to charge the apparatus with water in the rst instance (and for replacement after some has escaped The plug 52 can be removed with a wrench.

Still referring to Figure 1, the bottom of the cylinder 22 is sealed by a sheet metal bottom 35 which may have the shape of a polar zone of a spherical surface. Just above th-e bottom 35 is a sheet metal secondary bottom 36 which may also have the shape or" a polar zone of a spherical surface but which is placed convex side down while ythe bottom 35 is placed convex side up. The bottoms 35 and 36, which may also be made of steel, are welded to the inside of the cylinder 22 to form tight seals therewith. A short pipe 3'! extends between holes centrally located in the bottoms 35 and 35 and is similarly welded to each. This construction therefore forms a receptacle with a hole in the bottom at the deepest point, together with a chamber il under the receptacle. Holes 4l through the cylinder 22 in the chamber it connect this chamber to the space 26 between the cylinders 22 and 23.

Still referring to Figure l, under the sheet metal bottom 35 are electrical heating elements 45. As shown there are two of these heating elements i5 and they are supported by brackets i6 upheld by studs 'l welded to the underside of the bottom 35. These heating elements Lii may be be of the type now almost universally used in currently manufactured domestic electric stoves, consisting of a resistance wire embedded in magnesia inside of a metal sheath. Such heating elements are well known and therefore need not be further described herein. They may be connected in series or in parallel; as shown a wire 5t leads from one terminal of a heating element through a spark plug casing 5i through the sheet metal cylinder 22 and into a conduit 52 in a sheet metal boX 53, and there is likewise another wire, spark plug casing Yand conduit not shown to connect another terminal of one of the heating elements i5 to power. The wire 5G extends through a conduit 55 into another casing 5 secured to the outside of the cylinder 2li and likewise another terminal wire may lead through the same or an adjacent conduit not shown into the casing t5., In this casing `53s is electrical controlling apparatus responsive to a :thermostat t@ extending through the outer cylinder 24 and through a gasket 6i in the cylinder 2t and through one of the holes di into the space dii. This thermostat t@ can be set by means of a knob b to any desired temperature and then the electrical apparatus in the box 5@ will regulate the current through the heating elements d5 to keep the carbon tetrachloride or other substance gaseous or liquid in the space :it at the in-` dicated temperature. rlhe electrical apparatus in the box 5b is connected. by wires, not shown, to a junction box t3 through which the thermostat til extends. Electrical power is supplied to this apparatus by means of a plug Sli on the end of a cable t5. t is not necessary for me to describe .the electrical regulating apparatus in the box E@ since this is per se not part of my invention and is Well known in the arts generally nor do further details of the connections to the heaters 135 need to be described since these heaters may be connected to power in series or in parallel and any electrician knows how to do this. The heating elements l5 and supporting brackets dii and various connections may be enclosed in an annular box-like structure Si in the form of a piece of sheet metal extending from the ring 28 to a ring E33 vwelded tothe underside of the bottom 35.

When water is poured into the space 23 and into the chamber ill through the filling pipe 3i and the heating elements i5 are energized it will boil at a temperature depending `upon the pressure.

Extending through holes in the cylinders 23 and 2li to the space 2t is a pipe it connected to a T-union 'il to which is connected a pipe 'E2 connected to a T-union 13 to which is connected a safety valve l5. Connected to the T-union il is a gauge 16 while connected to the T-union i3 is a short pipe l'l connected to a valve i3 having a valve wheel i9 to open and close the valve, The outer end Si) of the valve 18 is internally threaded so that a pipe can readily be connected thereto.

As above stated, I charge the chamber d with water and of course this cannot be above the level of the orice of the filling pipe 3l. At all events, after filling the chamber d to the extent indicated, I open the valve 73 and turn on the heater which comprises the heating elements 45. This vaporiz-es the water and drives the air out of the space 2B. This space 2E can be called a jacket space. Another satisfactory way to get rid of part of the air is by connecting a vacuum pump by means of a pipe to the outer end 8i! to remove air from the space 25, which of course can be done without rst heating the water. It will thus be seen that the Yelectric heater located on the bottom of the gelatin melter will heat the entire inside wall of the gelatin melter by means of steam. While gelatin is being melted the water vapor or steam rises in the space 25 and condenses upon the wall 22 whereupon the water flows to the bottom. This provides circulation and insures the transfer of heat.

The safety valve l5 is usually set to operate at a pressure of about 30 pounds to the square inch, meaning about 30' pounds above atmospheric pressure which is close to ll5 pounds per square inch absolute. This apparatus can be used to melt gelatin masses without setting the thermostat 6i) above 100 C. These gelatin masses usually melt at between 35 C. and 49 C. but of course for efficient melting the temperature of the water vapor should vbe well above this range of temperatures.

may remove enough `air from the jacket space t to cause the water to boil at the desired teinperature. rhis boiling point should be slightly below the temperature set by the thermostat 69 (for example about 2 C. below). When the water boils the pressure in the jacket space 26 is increased and therefore the entire charge of water is not vaporized but the jacket space 25 is saturated with steam.

VStill referring to Figure 1, the gelatin melter 2d has a removable cover 85 which may be a domed piece of sheet steel welded to a steel ring lid having on the bottom a groove in which is a rubber ring 88 and having welded to the ring 86 an inside ring 8s to seat the cover inside of the sheet metal cylinder 22. Secured in a hole in the cover S5 is a circular frame d receiving a glass window SI which is held in place by a frame front 92 bolted to the frame d@ by bolts 93. Through this window Si the inside of the melter 2t can be observed and a beam of light can be directed through the window 9| or if desired a second window can be provided through which to shine the light. A pipe fitting 95 is secured in a hole in the cover and to this pipe fitting is attached a gauge Se by means of a short pipe sl. This gauge registers the below atmospheric pressure in the gelatin melter 20, that is to say it registers zero when the pressure inside the melter 2t is the same as that outside and the needle moves as the pressure inside is lowered. AV pipe nipple l is secured to and extends through the cover 85 and to this may be'connected a flexible hose connected to an air pump to exhaust air from the inside of the melter 2i);

For convenience in handling the cover I provide' one or more handles IUI welded thereto.

One of the diiculties encountered in melting gelatin heretofore is that it is so viscous that it entraps a great deal of air and gelatiny having air entrapped therein has an unpredictable viscosity and sheet material cast therefrom has undesired pores. The gelatin melter of this invention is :designed particularly for servicing-encapsulating machines although it may be used for any other desired purpose. Modern encapsulating machines form sheets or ribbons of gelatin and two of such sheets are brought together whereupon mechanism forms capsules out of the gelatin and fills them with medicament or other iilling material. If the capsule walls are porous the capsules will leak. Therefore it is highly desirable to avoid entrapping air in the gelatin as it is melted and it is also desirable to remove any air present in the grains of gelatin. I have found that gelatin of the desired viscosity containing little or no entrapped air can be quickly made by melting granular gelatin in the melter herein described by exhausting air from the chamber H32 which is the space above the bottom Se, inside of the cylinder 22 and under the cover 85. Satisfactory results are obtained a vacuum which measures minus 14 pounds per square inch in places where the atmospheric pressure is about 14.7 pounds per square inch. This vacuum is easy to achieve with a good pump. The rubber ring S8 provides a good seal between the cover 35 and the ring 2l and the greater the vacuum the tighter the seal as will be clear.

As the gelatin melts, it iiows downwardly through the short pipe 3l into a gelatin receiver 2l. It will be noted that the orice to this short pipe 3? is hush with the upwardly concave surface of the secondary bottom 3S and that the short pipe 3l is located in the middle of the false bottom 3E and at the lowest point thereof. This arrangement is so that practically every last bit of gelatin will eventually rind its way into the receiver 2 i. But I have found that, if no further precautions are taken, aggregates of grains of gelatin practically seal the orifice to the short pipe 3'! during the early stages of melting and this slows up the melting process because masses of conglomerated gelatin inside a pool of liquid gelatin melt but slowly whereas if the liquid phase, as fast as it is formed, is allowed to drain downwardly the remaining masses are more quickly melted. It is noted that gelatin, like glue, tends to agglomerate when heated. Accordingly I preferably provide a baffle it@ and this may be removable and desirably has a hanu die lill for that purpose. The baiiie les may, as shown, be a wide angle sheet metal cone having the otherwise circular bottom broken up by wide but shallow cut-outs ist. Thus the liquid phase gelatin as it forms is forced outwardly by gravity and the incline of the bailie l de practically to the cylinder 22 and then flows through the cut-outs lee down the concave surface of the secondary bottom 3S right to the short pipe 3l and therethrough into the receiver 2l. It is practically impossible for unmelted agglomerations of gelatin to bloclr all of the cut-outs 88 and hence no substantial pool of liquid gelatin forms at any time in the melter 2d. Furthermore, as the gelatin melts the mass thereof finally is lowered to the level of the apex of the baiile iilf and from that time on the remaining masses gradually glide outwardly toward the cylinder 22 which is the source of the heat and thus the melting operation is completed in a remarkably short time.

I have found that with this apparatus I can melt 140 pounds of gelatin in one hour in a gelatin melter constructed in accordance with this invention which has an inside diameter of 26" and which is 28 high from the outside of the false bottom 3S to the top of the cylinder 22 if I initially create a vacuum in the chamber l02 to leave only about 1 of mercury pressure therein and if the temperature in the space 2S is 90 C. This is very fast melting and furthermore the gelatin is free from entrapped air and has a uniform viscosity.

If the gelatin to be melted has already been hydrolized to the desired extent it can be melted in the gelatin melter of this invention without the addition of any other substance. If, however, the gel strength needs reducing or for any other reason the gelatin needs hydrolizing or further hydrolizing, water can be added with the solid particles of gelatin and the melter will not only melt the gelatin but will also hydrolize it. The total capacity of a melter having the dimensions above stated is around 350 pounds.

In order to check on the performance of the thermostat te I preferably provide a metal well l lil extending through the cylinders 23 and 24 and sealed thereto and also extending through one of the holes il to the inside of the chamber 40. This well lili has a closed inner end. A thermometer lil may be inserted into this well iid and withdrawn from time to time for reading.

The bottom of the melter 2e has a ring ange i l 5 for seating the melter on the receiver 2l. The sealing ring 3e is spaced upwardly from the lower end of the cylinders 23 and 2li thus leaving an annular space between these cylinders at the bottom thereof and in this space is a rubber ring l Il which rests upon a sealing ring l i5 which is Welded to and connects sheet metal cylinders H9 and 23 which are concentric and form two walls of the receiver El. The space between the cylinders i l 3 and lZ is preferably illed with heat insulating material i2@ like the heat insulating material 25. The cylinders le and i2@ are connected at the bottom by a sealing ring 25, Inside the cylinder itil and concentric with it is a sheet metal cylinder leaving a space l2? between the cylinders and 52e. This sheet metal cylinder lZG is truncated and an upwardly convex inclined bottom 28 is welded toit.

Below the bottom 52s is another metal bottom i3@ which may he a iat, slightly elliptical piece of steel welded to the sheet metal cylinder i223. Between the bottoms iii and lite is a space iSi which is in communication with the space i2?. The space I2'i is sealed by a ring it? welded to the cylinders |253 and E25. Extending through holes in the cylinders l i9 and lii to the space i2? is a pipe i33 connected to an elbow i3d having a plug l35 which can be removed wi h a wrench. rIhrough this elbow i3d and pipe 33 water can be introduced into the spaces lil ana1 il and in operation these spaces are usually filled to about the level of the top of the elbow i3d.

Secured to the underside of the metal bottom i353 by means of a clamp die is a heating element lili of circular shape. This element lill may be of the same type of electrical heating element as the elements :35. The clamp de is removably held in position by means of a stud i513 welded to the underside of the bottom i3d. This stud Mt and a nut M3 thereon also removably hold a metal box M5 around the element illi and clamp i .129, and in the metal box idd is asbestos insulation I 46. A wire I su is connected to one end of the heating element i/il and another wire not shown is connected to the other end thereof. These wires lead to a junction box iill which is connected by a pipe 53 to e. casing let which, like the casing 56, contains electrical controlling apparatus responsive to a thermostat les of the same kind as the thermostat 60. This thermostatI thev space I3 l This thermostatl can be set byV means or" a `knob |62 to any desired temperature and then the electrical'apparatus in the box |56 will regulate the ment lili to keep the water or other liquid in the spaces ISI and lill at the indicated temperature. The electrical regulating apparatus in the box |55 may be a substantial duplicate of that in thebox 5t and is connected by wires, not shown, to a junction box |63 thro-ugh which the thermostat |50 extends. Electrical power is supplied to this apparatus by means of a plug l'on the end of a cable |65. The pipe |53 connecting the casing |55 with the junction box- |5201r course contains electric wires.

In this manner the gelatin receiving chamber |68 formed by the cylinder |25 and bottom |28 may be kept at any desiredA temperature which can be checked from time to time by means of a removable thermometer i in a well like the well i lil. This well Il@ extends through the cylinders H9 and Vit-into the space |31. Connected by means of a short pipe the space |31 is a safety valve |'l5 which can be set to open at any desired pressure for example at a gauge pressure of 30 pounds per square inch.

ln order to drain the spaces |2lI and I3! from time to time an internally threaded socket |76 is welded to the underside o the bottom i3@ surrounding a hole through the bottom and into this socket ili is screwed a pipe il? on the bottom of' which is a removable plug |23. The water in the tank formed by the spaces i2? and isi is customarily kept at a temperature oi about 135 F. so that the gelatin in the receiving chamber U32 wiV be at or slightly under this temperature.

I further preferably provide a screen it secured to an annular trame |25 removably resting upon lugs 52 welded to the inside of the cylinder |26 in order to exclude splinters of wood or any other dirt or undesired substance from the receiving chamber les. The entire receiver 2| has bottom plates |22 secured to the undersides of the cylinders H2 and |22 and the ring |25 and to some oi these plates |35 are pivotally secured swivelling casters |25 having wheels itl, there being preferably four casters and wheels. Thus the receiver 2| can readily be moved from place to place. The bottom plates |85 do not cover all or" the area enclosed by the cylinder i2 instead access openings iii-8 are left for access to the safety valve |25, the box 25 and the heating element lill contained therein.

Extending through the cylinders lill, |22 and 625 and welded thereto is a pipe is@ to which is connected a large valve lili operated by a valve wheel |32 and having a threaded connection iii Through this valve it! gelatin can be delivered as desired. This valve l9| is heated by a cartridge` heater ist adjacent thereto which is connected by wires to the junction box |52 the wires being contained a pipe i2? and elbow |22.

Referring now to Figure 2, the gelatin receiver 2| is shown with the melter 20 removed. Instead the receiver 2i is capped by a cover 200 comprising an upper domed piece of sheet metal 20| and a lower domed piece of sheet metal 222 ccnnected by and welded to a ring 223 having a groove on the underside filled with a rubber ring 222. Ring bolts 20's mounted on pins, 20G between ears 221 and having wing nuts 208 are current through the heating ele-Y ll2 and an elbow |23 tov received in slotted members 2li!!Y to secure the cover 200 tightly to the receiver 2|, the ears 21 being welded to the outside of the receiver 2| andthe slotted' members` 209 being welded to the edge of the cover 200. The cover 200 has handles 2 i0 and the receiver 2| also has handles 2H. Similarly the melter 20' has handles 2|2. Extending throughthe pieces of sheet metal 20| and 202 from the inside to the. outside of' the cover 200 is a threaded nipple 2|5 by means of which the chamber |52 can be connected to a source of air under pressure. In this way the molten gelatin in the receiving chamber [E8 can be forced out through the valve |9| as desired.

The receiver 2| is shown standing: in the rear of an encapsulating machine 220l having legs 22|, a bottom frame member 222 like a platform, an upright frame member 223 like a panel and a top frame member 22d like a platform. Gelatin tanks 225 are supported by the platform 224. Referring nowl to Figure 3, each gelatin. tank comprises a bottom 22S, three concentric cylinders 22|, 22S and 229, an inside bottom 230, and a cover 23| which is removable and has a. handle 232.. The space between the cylinders 221 and 220 is filled with insulating material 233V which may be porous silica. There isa space 232 between the cylinders 228 and 229 and between the bottoms 226 and 232 which is lled with'water or other suitable huid which is heated by an electric heater 23E extending through a ring 236 that extends through the cylinders 221 and 223.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, a coupling 23S connects the Vvalve iti to a short pipe 239 which is connected to an elbow 2li-t which is connected to a vertical pipe 22| which is connected to piping including vertical' pipes 222 and 223, elbows 222 and 2435 and short horizontal pipes not shown and at the top thereof to a T union 222 which is connected to horizontalpipes 253 which are connected to short pipe 254i that extend through short pipes 255. which extend through and are welded to the cylinders 221, 228 and 229. It will now be seen that when the wheel |92 is turned. to open the valve itl, provided there is pressure in the chamber |62, liquid gelatin will flow up the pipes 24|, 222 and 223 and through pipes 253 and 251| into the gelatin tanks 225. There will be no back pressure opposing this ow because the covers 23| are not tight.

provide means to heat the pipes 24|, 222, 243 and 253 as well as the valve |2| in order that the gelatin shallnot Ycongeal therein. The cartridge heater |25 is embedded in a U-shaped casting Edi which is U-shaped as seen from the side and also trom the iront as illustrated in Figures l and fl. This casting 20| is clamped to the valve itl by means of cross bars 262 and screws 26S as shown and the heat readily flows from' casting 2S| into the metal of the valve |9| and keeps the gelatin from congealing therein. Reerring especially to Figure 2, a resistance wire 265 is wound around the horizontal pipes 253 and then down around the piping comprising pipes 223, 222 and 225 and electric current is passed through this wire heating all of this piping. Sheaths of insulation 2&2 are placed over the pipes 223 and wire 265 and sheaths 0f insulation 26| are placed over the piping including the vertical pipes il, 242 and 223 as well as the horizontal pipes not shown thatv connect them and of course enclosing the resistance wire 265. In this manner this whole system of piping is kept warm so that the gelatin will not congeal therein. If these precautions were not taken the gelatin would be apt to freeze in the piping because piping readily radiates heat.

Referring now to Figure 3, liquid gelatin is delivered from the gelatin tanks 225 by vertical pipes 210 which extend through the bottoms 226 and 230, into valves 21| having hand Wheels 212. When the valves 21| are opened gelatin flows into spreader boxes 213 which deposit the liquid gelatin upon casting Wheels 214. The features of the spreader boxes 213 will be described more in detail hereinafter in connection with the modification of Figure 5, these spreader boxes being illustrated in enlarged scale in Figures e and 7. The casting Wheels 214 are kept cool in any suitable manner and revolve in the directions shown by the arrows being mounted upon axles 215. These casting wheels 214 may be driven in any suitable manner; as herein shown pinion gears 216 engage gear teeth 211 formed on one side of the periphery of the casting drums, these pinion gears 216 being driven in any suitable manner. The gear teeth 211 engage pinions 218 which drive rollers 219 by means of belts and pulleys not shown thereby to pick off the ribbons 280 of congealed gelatin deliverying these ribbons 280 to encapsulating apparatus not shown herein since it forms no part of the present invention. The spreader boxes 213 rest upon the casting wheels 214 but are prevented from moving with it by means of arms 28|. The axles 215 for the casting wheels are supported by frame pieces 282 secured to the platforms 222 and 22d.

lThe apparatus of this invention functions to produce high grade ribbons of gelatin 289 for the production of perfect capsules because the gelatin is melted without entrapping any air and is kept at a high enough temperature so that it will iiow freely until it reaches the casting drums 214 whereupon it is quickly congealed to form the ribbons. Accordingly the apparatus of this invention greatly facilitates the manufacture of perfect capsules by automatic encapsulating mechanism. Furthermore this apparatus can be easily operated and controlled and readily moved from one place to another in order that the gelatin may be melted. in one room and the encapsulating done in another room. This is especially important since the encapsulating room should be air-conditioned and cool. Only the receiver 2| needs to be moved into the encapsulating room and the melter 2B can remain in the melting room. Movement of the melter and receiver is no problem because there are no steam pipes connected to either. The electric cables 65 and |55 can be long cables having plugs at the other ends so that they can be connected to power Wherever there is a Wall socket. Modern factories have compressed air systems connected to piping to which .hoses can be quickly attached and thus subjecting the chamber 463 to pressure is no problem. Similarly1 the provision of piping to connect the nipple |09 to a source of vacuum presents little dilculty. The valve iti can be quickly attached to and detached from the pipe 239 by the coupling 238. Thus an encapsulating machine can be readily and efficiently serviced by this apparatus and there is no difficulty about spilling gelatin as when using pails to fill the gelatin tanks 225.

Referring now to Figure 5, the gelatin receiver 2| is shown connected directly to the spreader boxes 213 thus eliminating the gelatin tanks 22e. As shown, the coupling 238 is connected to a short pipe 283 which is connected to an elbow 284 which is connected to a vertical pipe 285 which is connected to a T union 286 which is connected to horizontal pipes 281, which are connected to elbows not shown, Which are connected to forwardly extending horizontal pipes 283 one of which is shown in Figure 7, which are connected to elbows 2S@ which are connected to vertical pipes 253i which are connected to valves 292 operated by hand Wheels 2913. An electric resist- Wire rilliis wound around all of this piping including the valves 292 and thus they are al1 kept warm. Sheaths of insulation 295, 296 and 291 cover this piping and the Wire 29e and keep the gelatin at the saine temperature as it travels from the receiver 2| to the spreader boxes 213. Thus the gelatin cannot congeal and neither does its viscosity change.

-Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, each spreader box 213 comprises end Walls 3M, a doctor 302 and a combined back and bottom Wall Set which is inclined as shown. A bolt 3534 holds a clamp 'dit to clamp heaters 306 against the combined back and bottom 363. A pair of heaters 301 are clamped to the doctor 332 by means of screws 339. Arms Stil attached to the top of the spreader boxes .213 hold fittings 3l l on the ends of conduits 352 in which is electric wire 3i3 to energize the heaters. There are also heaters @l5 secured by screws Slt to the end Walls 3M. Thus it will be seen that the spreader boxes 213 are kept warm and gelatin cannot congeal therein. The gelatin is spread upon the cylinders 21d by the doctors 3&2 having lugs 32| into which extend adjusting screws 322 that are held by thrust members i323 and the former being connected to the latter by a screw and pinion 326 and the latter being secured by screws 321 to the end walls 36|. Thus either end of the doctor 322 can be raised or lowered relative to the casting Wheel 214 and the adjustment is a :une one. In this manner the thickness of the gelatin ribbon 2S@ can be regulated. The spreader boxes have legs 330 (two for each box) which rest on the casting Wheels, these legs 33d being attached to the spreader boxes by means of screws 33t. As already explained the arms 28! prevent the spreader boxes from moving with the casting Wheels 214. rihere are two arms 28| for each box 213, one at each end thereof and the arms 281 are mounted on shafts 335 attached to and projecting from the panel Fins 335 on the boxes 213 engage slots 331 in the arms 28| to hold the boxes to the arms and therefore the boxes 213 can easily removed from the machine for cleaning.

The apparatus herein described is apparatus for conditioning gelatin and delivering it to an encapsulating machine in good condition for making perfect capsules. By conditioning I not only mean melting but also removing any air in the gelatin and preventing any additional air from being entrapped in the gelatin. As pointed out hereinbeiore the inelter 2t is an eiiicient inelter since the liquid drains off as fast as it is formed and the provision of the baille H36 prevents the short pipe 31 which is the exit orice of the inelter .from being blocked with agglomerations of gelatin which otherwise would occur. As 'the liquid is formed, it pours through the short pipe 31 and starts to fill the gelatin receiving chamber It will be noticed that by the evacuation of air from the chamber |62 air is also evacuated from the chamber i et because the short pipe 3l connects these chambers while the rubber ring il? seals the inelter to the receiver. As the pressure in the chambers |62 and |68 drops, themelter 2l) ,is held tighter Vand tighter to thereceiver 2l so there is no danger of leakage .of air into the combination melte-r-receiver. It is understood, of course, that the pipe nipple 'itil -is connected to piping having a check valve therein which in `turn is connected to an exhaust pump. Somewhere in this line is a control valve to rcadmit the air into the chambers E92 and 58 and `this control valve is manipulated whenever the load of gelatin inthe .melter H32 has been completely melted and is now in liquid form in the chamber |68. When this occurs can Yeasily be observed by observation through the glass window 9i. Then, air having been readmitted into the chambers m2 and it, the melter 2i! can readily be lifted from the receiver 2l and the cover 2&0 can be clamped upon the receiver 2l and air .can be pumped into the receiver through the threaded nipple 2 l5. Again it is to be understood that this threaded nipple 2 i5 is to be connected to flexible piping having a check valve and a suitable hand controlled valve and an air pump and most modern factories have such equipment readily available, there being piping in the Walls, pressure pumps as well. as exhaust pumps located at some remote place but connected to the piping throughout the building. It is, however, desirable to have a iitting 3ds on the nipple 2 i5 containing .a check valve to allow the air to be forced into the receiver 2l but not to exhaust therefrom. By the provision of this iitting 34@ to which in turn the air hose is connected, the air pressure in the chamber 463 will be maintained even when the hose is disconnected and this will permit the receiver 2l to be moved into the encapsulating room without dragging a lot of hose behind it. It is ol course easy to let the air out of the receiver 2l at any time insornuch as this may be done by loosening one or more of the wing nuts 208. While they are tight, however, the cover 200 is hermetically sealed to the receiver 2i by means or" the rubber ring 294. This rubber ring 2M may be the same as the ring lll or it may be a different ring.

The heating of the chamber i532 takes place by a reflux condenser action. It will be seen from the level of the lling Vpipe 3l that there is never a great deal of liquid in the chamber il@ which is in effect part of the jacket which includes the jacket space 26 between the walls 22 and .23 which may be sheet metal cylinders as described. As the liquid vaporizes it condenses on the wall 22 and then trickles down this wall into the pool in the jacket chamber QG. This reflux condenser action facilitates the fast delivery of .heat trono the electrical heating elements '45 to the charge in the chamber lil. On the other hand, it is more important that the receiver 2l have and retain a large quantity ,of heat as measured in calories or British thermal units. Consequently the jacket space -l2l between the walls lil! and 26 is substantially filled with liquid as will be seen by the level of the filling pipe E33, ist. Any liquid at a given temperature has more heat units therein for a given volume than any gas at the same temperature.

The heating units for both the melter and the receiver are located outside of the liquid so that they will not deteriorate and at the saine time are conveniently accessible for renewal or repair. However they are located in contact with the bottom of the melter and receiver respectively and above this bottom is the liquid which is to be heated in each case while the jacket of the melter is heated by a .reflux condenser .action .and the jacket of rthe receiver is .heated .byconvection flow inthe liquid. The receiver, having a large quantity of hot water in the jacket, holds a large quantity of British .thermal units of heat. f it is desired to cool the receiver, cold water can be Vadded to its jacket.

The concentric cylinder construction oi the walls of the melter and the receiver gives con siderable strength tol resist the mechanical forces due to evacuation of air from the chambers il?? and it@ and to resist the mechanical forces due to the pumping of air into the chamber E63. Fur thermore the removable cover 53 domed, that is to say it has the shape of a polar zone of a spherical surface, and this shape also resists mechanical force due to evacuation of air. It will be noted also that the bottom lit has the shape of a polar sone of a spherical surface. The cornbination ci a cylinder and a pair of polar zones makes a mechanically strong container. Furthermore the jacket space comprising the spaces 2B and de may sometimes be under considerable pressure perhaps due to overheating by the hea@ ing elements d5, but the polar acne shape of the bottoms 35 and 35 and their arrangement, convex sides towards each other, give great strength to the jacket construction as also does the cylindrical shape ci the walls l2 and By providing a geometry to give greatstrength l can reduce the amount of metal in the parts thus to provide a light weight melter and a light weight receiver.

One advanage of the apparatus of this invention is that gelatin can be quickly hydroliaed and aged in that by charging the chamber it with gelatin containing water and glycerine or other plasticizer, and heating, as described, the gela tin can be used as soon as it has been collected in the receiver 2 l, which could not heretofore be done with certain raw gelatine which had not been aged for several days. rEhis is `due to the provisions :for creating a vacuum, heating to the relatively high temperatures indicated (high for gelatin) and the quick withdrawal oi the hydrolized melt.

With regard to the vacuum in the chamber 52, I have found it good practice to employ a vacuum down to one inch of mercury absolute but good and Apractical results can be achieved ii the vacuum is as good as ve inches of mercury absolute. Gelatin treated in accordance with my invention having been cooked and having had the air extracted makes strong impervious capsules and permits an automatic encapsulating machine to operate continuously Without breakdown whereas gelatin not so treated frequently makes inferior capsules.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set vforth together with many thoroughly practical advantages Y successfully achieved. Pis various possible embodiments might be made of the mechanical features of the above invention without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbeiore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.V

I claim:

l. A gelatin melter comprising three cylindrical coaxial walls having two sealed spaces 'therebetween and the inside wall forming a container, two spherical polar zone sheet members inside the container at the bottom thereof and being aixcd along .their peripheriesto said inside wall so as to provide a bottom and a secondary bottom to the container, the lower of said spherical polar zone sheet members which forms the container bottom being located concave side down and the upper thereof which forms the secondary bottom being located concave side up and there being a space sealed between them in communication with the sealed space between the intermediate and the inner coaxial Walls, a discharge oriiice through said spherical polar zone sheet members at the poles thereof and an upright conical baffle member in said container disposed immediately above said secondary bottom and extending substantially to the inside wall of the. container, said baille member being provided along its periphery with a plurality of shallow cut-outs, said vbaille member and its peripheraledge cut-outs causing the melted gelatin to iiow outwardly on to the peripheral portion of said secondary bottom and the upward concavity of the latter causing the melted gelatin to iiow nwardly to said discharge oriiice.

2. A gelatin melter as claimed in claim 1 in which the baiiie member is removably supported on the secondary bottom.

3. Apparatus for servicing an encapsulating machine or the like comprising a gelatin melter having outer and inner coaxial cylindrical Walls and a double bottom defining a cylindrical space into which the gelatin can be put, said double bottom comprising a lower downwardly concave bottom ondary bottom member, said members being axially spaced and sealed along their peripheries to the inner cylindrical wall and connected by a centrally disposed pipe for the discharge of melted gelatin, said coaxial Walls and said double bottom providing respectively a peripheral cylindrical shell space and a communicating bottom space to receive heating fluid, there being an upright conical baffle member disposed in said cylindrical space immediately above and removably supported on said secondary bottom member, said baiile member extending substantially to the inner cylindrical wall and being provided shaped so that said melter will fit thereon and having ydetachable sealing means for sealing the melter to the receiver along their respective lower and upper edges, said receiver having a pair of coaxial cylindrical walls and a double bottom defining a cylindrical space into which the melted gelatin can be received, a peripheral cylindrical shell space and a bottom space to receive heating liquid, an electric heater under but close to said double bottom and a filling connection from the outside to the peripheral cylindrical shell space near the top thereof so that the receiver can be kept hot by a large volume of hot liquid introduced through said filling connection into said peripheral cylindrical shell space and said bottom space.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A GELATIN MELTER COMPRISING THREE CYLINDRICAL COAXIAL WALLS HAVING TWO SEALED SPACES THEREBETWEEN AND THE INSIDE WALL FORMING A CONTAINER, TWO SPHERICAL POLAR ZONE SHEET MEMBERS INSIDE THE CONTAINER AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND BEING AFFIXED ALONG THEIR PERIPHERIES TO SAID INSIDE WALL SO AS TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM AND A SECONDARY BOTTOM TO THE CONTAINER, THE LOWER OF SAID SPHERICAL POLAR ZONE SHEET MEMBERS WHICH FORMS THE CONTAINER BOTTOM BEING LOCATED CONCAVE SIDE DOWN AND THE UPPER THEREOF WHICH FORMS THE SECONDARY BOTTOM BEING LOCATED CONCAVE SIDE UP AND THERE BEING A SPACE SEALED BETWEEN THEM IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE SEALED SPACE BETWEEN THE INTERMEDIATE AND THE INNER COAXIAL WALLS, A DISCHARGE ORIFICE THROUGH SAID SPHERICAL POLAR ZONE SHEET MEMBERS AT THE POLES THEREOF AND AN UPRIGHT CONICAL BAFFLE MEMBER IN SAID CONTAINER DISPOSED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE SAID SECONDARY BOTTOM AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE INSIDE WALL OF THE CONTAINER, SAID BAFFLE MEMBER BEING PROVIDED ALONG ITS PERIPHERY WITH A PLURALITY OF SHALLOW CUT-OUTS, SAID BAFFLE MEMBER AND ITS PERIPHERALEDGE CUT-OUTS CAUSING THE MELTED GELATIN TO FLOW OUTWARDLY ON TO THE PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID SECONDARY BOTTOM AND THE UPWARD CONCAVITY OF THE LATTER CAUSING THE MELTED GELATIN TO FLOW INWARDLY TO SAID DISCHARGE ORIFICE. 